By Charles Randall

14 June 2015
 

Perhaps the tentative arrival of summer had something to do with it. England's record one-day score of 408 against New Zealand in Birmingham on June 9 was well documented, but on the same day Middlesex second team were scorching to a total of 697, a club highest at this level.

And Buckinghamshire were involved in an astonishing three-day runfest against Hertfordshire in a Minor Counties Championship East game at High Wycombe, which ended in a unprecedented run-chase of 490 for the home side.

Middlesex scored 605 in a single day against Glamorgan at Radlett, the most runs made by any side any time in the second team championship, before going on to their declaration eight down. Paul Stirling hit 254 and fellow Irishman Andrew Balbirnie 205, apparently the first time there had been two double centurions in one Middlesex innings, though Glamorgan forced a draw.

Three Hertfordshire records went when Eddie Ballard (248) and Tanweer Sikandar (209) put on 431 together in an unbroken third-wicket partnership before the declaration came at 487-2. Not surprisingly this stand by two Club Cricket Conference regulars eclipsed all records for any wicket by any county in the championship. Ballard, of Bishop's Stortford CC, took himself to the top of the county's list of all-time highest innings, ahead of Arthur Golding and Charles Titchmarsh, two legends in minor counties cricket. Two double-centurions in one innings had never been achieved before by Herts.  Ballard, Khan and Payne are due to play in Grenada and Barbados on the CCC centenary tour in November.

Golding, of Bushey CC, had held the innings record since 1905 with 223 against the MCC. Titchmarsh, of Harpenden CC, probably the most formidable batsman to represent Herts, set the championship highest with 218 in 1926, so Ballard certainly made a name for himself with his undefeated 248. 

Buckinghamshire set off for a run-chase that had never been achieved before, with the Gloucestershire left-arm spinner Tom Smith, 244 not out in 261 balls on his debut, and Shaan Khan (147) pulverising the Hertfordshire bowling. This allowed the captain Michael Payne (65) to guide his side to a six-wicket win with more than an hour to spare. Smith's 244 was the highest Bucks individual innings in their history.